Dear stellaray-ga;
Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question. It is
indeed possible. The medical term for the condition commonly referred
to as ?stomach flu? is ?viral gastroenteritis?, a viral infection that
affects the stomach and small intestine. During the course of this
affliction the lining of the intestine (and sometimes the stomach
itself) becomes inflamed and partially or completely unable to perform
natural and normal functions. It can be extremely painful and
typically runs its course in 1-3 days though it can last longer in
cases where the infection is particularly severe and may require 1 to
2 weeks before a person?s bowel habits return to normal. In the
interim, soreness and perhaps even bruising of the abdomen is not
uncommon.
Ironically, stomach flu is not related to the influenza (flu) virus at
all. It is contagious can be caused by a number of viruses including
rotaviruses, noroviruses, adenoviruses, sapoviruses, and astroviruses
to name a few. Usually a person gets this virus from kissing, shaking
hands, drinking after or coming into close contact with someone who
has it or by consuming foods or beverages contaminated by someone with
it.
Viral gastroenteritis is usually diagnosed by a knowledgeable
physician based on the symptoms and medical examination of the
patient. While it is possible that you might have had some other
condition, an experience physician should have been able to diagnose
your stomach flu accurately without laboratory testing. Many
physicians will recommend the following actions for you to take during
the healing process. If, during the next few days, you experience more
problems you should contact your physician again but as a rule here is
what is recommended:
?The most important thing to do is to rest the stomach and intestines.
You can do this by first eating nothing solid and drinking only clear
liquids. A little later you can eat soft bland foods that are easy to
digest.
If you have been vomiting a lot, it is best to have only small,
frequent sips of liquids. Drinking too much at once, even an ounce or
two, may cause more vomiting.
Your choice of liquids is important. If water is the only liquid you
can drink without vomiting, that is okay. However, if you have been
vomiting often for a long time, you must replace the minerals, sodium
and potassium, that are lost when you vomit. Ask your health care
provider what sport drinks or other commercial electrolyte replacement
drinks could help you replace these minerals.
Other clear liquids you can drink are weak tea and apple juice. You
may also drink soft drinks without caffeine (such as 7-UP) after
letting them go flat (lose their carbonation). Chilling the liquids
may help you keep them down. Avoid liquids that are acidic (such as
orange juice) or caffeinated (such as coffee) or have a lot of
carbonation. Do not drink milk until you no longer have diarrhea.
You may start eating soft bland foods when you have not vomited for
several hours and are able to drink clear liquids without further
upset. Soda crackers, toast, plain noodles, gelatin, eggs, applesauce,
and bananas are good first choices. Avoid foods that are acidic,
spicy, fatty, or fibrous (such as meats, coarse grains, vegetables).
Also avoid dairy products. You may start eating these foods again in 3
days or so, when all signs of illness have passed.
Sometimes treatment includes prescription medicine to prevent nausea
and vomiting or diarrhea. Nonprescription medicine is available for
the treatment of diarrhea and can be very effective. If you use it,
make sure you use only the dose recommended on the package. If you
have chronic health problems, always check with your health care
provider before you use any medicine for diarrhea.
If you have been vomiting for more than a day or have had diarrhea for
over 3 days, call your health care provider. You may need to have an
exam to rule out more serious problems and to check for dehydration.
You may also need to have lab tests to determine whether bacteria or
germs such as giardia are causing your illness.
Dehydration is a potentially serious complication of stomach flu. It
can occur if your body loses too much fluid because you keep vomiting
or having diarrhea. If you are severely dehydrated, you may need to be
given fluids intravenously (IV). In children and older adults,
dehydration can quickly become life threatening.?
ADULT HEALTH ADVISOR
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_gastroen_crs.htm
I hope you find that my answer exceeds your expectations. If you have
any questions about my research please post a clarification request
prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher
[INFORMATION SOURCES]
ADULT HEALTH ADVISOR
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_gastroen_crs.htm
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/faq.htm
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STOMACH FLU
VIRAL GASTROENTERITIS |
